A Gripping, Atmospheric Mystery with a Few Loose Ends
Megan Chance’s Glamorous Notions is an engrossing historical mystery that transports readers to the shadowy world of 1950s Hollywood—a place where reinvention is essential, secrets are currency, and paranoia lurks beneath the industry’s glittering surface. The novel blends noir-style suspense with an exploration of identity, betrayal, and the suffocating effects of political and social censorship.
The story follows Lena Taylor, a talented costume designer at Lux Pictures, who has spent years carefully constructing a new identity. But beneath her glamorous façade lies a past she’s desperate to keep hidden. Once known as Elsie Gruner, a gifted young designer from Ohio, she was drawn into the intoxicating world of jazz clubs and secret dealings in post-war Rome. When a deadly intrigue spiraled out of control, she fled to Los Angeles, assuming a new life. But now, with an impending engagement and growing public attention, Lena finds herself trapped between the ghosts of her past and the precarious reality she’s built.
Chance does a great job of weaving historical detail into the novel, making the setting feel vivid and immersive. The tension builds steadily, as the reader, like Lena, is never quite sure who can be trusted. The backdrop of McCarthy-era fear and Hollywood’s voluntary censorship adds a chilling layer to the story, making it feel all the more relevant today when self-censorship and social pressures continue to shape public discourse.
While the novel delivers a compelling mystery and a satisfying slow-burn suspense, the ending feels slightly rushed and leaves a few key threads unresolved.
Recommended for fans of historical mysteries and Hollywood noir.